These are ten of the best essential oils for winter. We use them daily to support and strengthen our immune systems, bring relief to sore throats and congestion, soothe upset stomachs, fill our home with relaxing and peaceful aromas, and so much more! 

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I don’t know about you, but I know that when I am considering trying something new, I can feel paralyzed by choices and decisions. There’s pressure (I put on myself) to know all the things so I can do all the things. This is why I tend to be slow about trying something new.

Essential oils were one of those things where there seemed to be so much I didn’t know, and I put off trying them for myself for a long time. I waited for months and months, even though I knew several close friends who were already improving their family’s health and seeing so many benefits from essential oils.

Once I did finally jump in take baby steps and buy my first oils, though, it didn’t take long before I too saw how essential oils could change the way our family approaches so many things.

Now, my stash of essential oils is the first place we turn for almost every ailment. I carry oils in my purse everywhere we go, and my kids know to ask for them before bed or when they get hurt. Even my husband is making steps to replace OTC meds with essential oil alternatives.

More and more, people are looking to replace chemicals, artificial additives, and conventional medicines with pure and natural products.  You may be just starting this process, or knee-deep in natural living. Either way, I’m glad you’re here and I’m excited to share with you ten of the best essential oils to have on hand during the winter months. 

I always try to make things as helpful for you as possible, so I have included possible uses for each oil and printable reference sheet as well. It’s also worth noting that I have chosen to get our family’s essential oils from DoTERRA after researching and dialoguing with knowledgeable friends.

There are a myriad of places you can find essential oils nowadays (because they are so popular), but essential oils are literally not created equal. Some have additives and fillers, or have been processed in a harmful way, and it is important to pick oils that are high quality if you want to see the best results.

(Oils from the grocery store simply are not going to be as effective at fighting infections as DoTERRA’s and other high-quality, pure oils).

10 Best Essential Oils for Winter

1. OnGuard

OnGuard is DoTERRA’s immunity boosting blend and is one of my must-have essential oils for the winter. With the heightened chances of getting sick during these months, we use this oil daily (sometimes multiple times a day) to keep our family healthy and to strengthen our bodies’ ability to combat bacterial and viral threats.

It doesn’t hurt that I also love the way it smells!

What it’s good for…

• immunity boosting
• oral health
• household cleaners

How to use it…

• on the bottoms of our kids’ feet every night before bed
• diffuse it when we have parties or friends over
• use it as a hand sanitizer while we are out
• behind the ears and/or on the hands for extra help when we are in potentially extra “germy” places (like the Chick-fil-a play area, bowling alley, grocery store, etc)
• use it on snacks like popcorn or apples (briefly soaked in water with a couple drops of OnGuard)
• swish DoTERRA’s mouthwash before bed
• make an all-purpose cleaner with it

Of course, you can get OnGuard just as the oil blend (which is a very good idea), but you can also buy products with the oil blend already mixed in them. Cleaning concentrate, mouthwash, throat lozenges, whitening toothpaste, foaming hand wash, and hand sanitizer are several of the available options. I also love buying the Touch roller because it is already diluted and super easy to keep in my purse and ready to roll on my kids’ feet at night.

2. Breathe

Breathe is my next best pick for the winter months because it is during the winter months that we struggle the most with congestion, coughs, sore throats, etc. We use Breathe as soon as there is any hint of cough or congestion.

What it’s good for…

• respiratory support
• clearing airways
• promoting peaceful/calming feelings

How to use it…

• dilute it and apply in on the chest, back, or bottoms of the feet
• diffuse it or add a few drops to a humidifier
• apply to relieve exercise-induced asthma (wish I had this as a teenager!)
• apply under or across the nose to help with sinusitis or allergies

Breathe is another essential oil blend that we will use multiple bottles of during the winter. It’s that good and so helpful! Just like with OnGuard, you can purchase products with the Breathe blend already in them. I highly recommend the Breathe vapor stick and the respiratory drops (for a natural, oils-based cough drop).

3. Peppermint

Peppermint is really an oil that is wonderful year-round, but definitely belongs in a list of winter “essentials” too. It has so many uses, but you want to be sure to buy a high-quality oil for the best results.

What it’s good for…

• headache & migraine relief
• upset stomach
• reducing fevers
• flavoring baked treats or hot drinks
• suppressing appetite
• energy boost
• get rid of bad breath

How to use it…

• dilute and apply to temples, above ears, and/or back of neck for headache or migraine relief
• apply topically to abdomen or place one drop under tongue for upset stomach
• apply along spine to bring down a fever
• add 1-2 drops to baked goods or hot drinks to give peppermint flavor
• use a drop of peppermint and a drop of lemon in water for a mouth rinse

4. Oregano

Oregano isn’t just good in marinara sauce, it’s also a strong antibacterial and antiviral essential oil. Oregano oil should be used sparingly when cooking and diluted when applying topically.

What it’s good for…

• immunity boosting
• fighting infection
• strong antioxidant when ingested
• cleansing

How to use it…

• Apply diluted to the bottom of your feet for immunity boosting
• Take internally to further strengthen your immune system
• Use in spaghetti sauce, pizza, or on roasts
• use with water for a surface cleaner
• gargle a drop in water for strep throat and tonsillitis

5. Melaleuca (Tea Tree)

Melaleuca is a wonderful essential oil, and like peppermint and lavender, one with many uses and benefits. It has immunity boosting properties and is also a purifying oil. It is excellent for skin, so is often used in conjunction with lavender on skin irritations. It is interesting to note that the leaves of the Melaleuca tree have been used for centuries by Australian Aborigines.

What it’s good for…

• disinfecting wounds
• fight ear infections
• immunity boosting
• treat cold sores
• lice prevention

How to use it…

• make a blend with lavender and use on skin irritations and cuts
• apply behind and around ear for ear infections
• add 1 to 2 drops to a facial cleanser for added cleansing benefits
• add to shampoo to prevent/repel lice
• take internally to strengthen your immune system

6. DigestZen

With all the holidays and treats that we enjoy in the winter, along with the potentially heavier and richer foods, having an oil blend that aids in digestion, upset stomach, and gas/bloating is a great way to naturally relieve these issues.

What it’s good for…

• heartburn
• nausea
• indigestion
• bloating/gas
• morning sickness
• travel/motion sickness

How to use it…

• apply (neat or diluted) over abdomen for digestive relief
• apply to chest and/or abdomen to ease morning sickness
• inhale or apply under the nose to prevent motion sickness
• add a few drops to water and drink to aid with any of the issues listed above

DigestZen is available as an oil, or in other products– diluted in a Touch bottle, in soft gels to take internally, and in chewable tablet form.

7. Douglas Fir

Don’t you just love the smell of evergreen trees?! It is such a peaceful, happy smell and one that I love to diffuse in the winter. You don’t have to have a real Christmas tree for your house to smell like one!

Douglas fir also has a lot of other great uses, too, so you’re not only getting the fragrance, you’re getting other potential benefits as well.

What it’s good for…

• fighting mental fog and low energy
• aids in clear airways
• emotional balance
• cleansing benefits

How to use it…

• diffuse to freshen the air and aid a sense of peace and focus
• dilute and apply to chest or bridge of nose to aid in relieving congestion
• add 1 drop to facial cleanser
• dilute and apply to temples, forehead, and back of neck to relax

This oil, like other DoTERRA oils is sustainably sourced from young trees in New Zealand, providing quality oil and supporting the local environment.

8-10. Cinnamon, Orange, & Clove

These three oils are amazing when diffused together. They make your home smell so inviting and warm, and at the same time they are invigorating and energizing. We all know that the longer winter lasts, the harder it can be to be positive and upbeat. Creating a cozy home and diffusing oils that brighten the mood can help a ton.

Plus, each of these essential oils are great to use in baking recipes. Feeling dreary like the weather outside? Bake some orange muffins!

What it’s good for…

• energizing and uplifting
• baking
• emotional balance
• dental discomfort

How to use it…

• diffuse them together to uplift the mood
• add a few drops in baking recipes (muffins, cookies, frosting, etc) to add flavor
• use clove to relieve tooth pain

Download and print the Best Essential Oils for the Winter Reference Sheet

We will be using these ten oils all winter long. There’s no guarantee of good health, but I am happy to have the tools to be able to support my family’s health and avoid repeat visits to the doctor during cold and flu season. 

Do you have favorite oils, tips, or other natural remedies that help you during the winter months? Please share them in the comments!

Interested in DoTERRA essential oils? 

I am not interested in pushing anyone to do anything they are not ready for, but I’d be remiss if I told you all about the ten best essential oils to get you through the winter, and then didn’t at least tell you how you could get some for yourself.

If it’s not your cup of tea, no problem! Let’s still be friends. If you want to know a little more, you can find out more details here. 

If you are interested in creating your own stash of essential oils to get you through the winter and beyond, you have a few options. You can order all the oils from the DoTERRA page at the retail price without a membership. However, if you plan to continue adding more oils to your stash, a membership makes the most sense. Or, if you plan on buying more than a few oils, the cost of becoming a member would even out with the 25% savings you would get on the oils you ordered.

Similar to buying a Costco membership (my home away from home), once you become a member you will save money on every oil purchase and have the opportunity to earn free oils each month. You will also get the support and resources from being a part of our team.

Check out the membership and enrollment kit information.

A few FAQ’s: 

• If you become a member (wholesale customer), there is no monthly obligation to buy anything. You can make purchases as needed or as your budget allows.
• If you want to order several oils at once when you are first getting started, ordering an enrollment kit is budget-friendly option. An enrollment kit will waive your membership fee, and you will get an incredible starter set of oils. The Family Essentials Kit includes 6 of the oils from this list, along with other “essentials” like Lavender and Lemon. An even better deal is the Home Essentials Kit because you get 3x the oils in each bottle and a diffuser.
• The oils may seem expensive, but remember a little goes a long way. You are only using a couple of drops at a time, so the bottles tend to last a while. I also really love the Touch bottles, which are already diluted and most are about $13.

Have any other questions? Feel free to email me (thispilgrimlife@gmail.com), or message me on Facebook, or comment below!

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